Rotary apparatus

Abstract

A rotary cutting and forming apparatus for strip material, having rotatable upper and lower roll units, the units being connected for synchronous rotation, each of the units having a carrier member with at least one recess extending parallel to its central axis, and at least one die support block, the block being rotatably received within the recess, and having two ends, and a surface to which a die may be affixed, leading and trailing control pins on the block, extending on parallel spaced apart axes, and leading and trailing cam surfaces engaging respective leading and trailing control pins, to control the position of the blocks during at least part of their rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary cutting and forming apparatus for forming strip material for use in association with material forming dies comprising: a rotatable upper roll unit and a corresponding rotatable lower roll unit, said units being connected for synchronous rotation, each of said units comprising a corner member defining a central axis, said member having at least one recess extending along said member parallel to the central axis, said recess having bearing surface means of generally semi-circular shape, and at least one die support block, rotatably received within said recess, said block defining two ends and a platan surface to which at least one of said forming dies may be affixed;   leading control pin means extending from a leading portion of a said end along a first axis;   trailing control pin means extending from a trailing portion of a said end, along a second axis spaced from said first axis of said leading control pin means;   said upper and lower roll units being spaced apart whereby said material may pass therebetween for formation by said dies;   leading cam surface means positioned to engage said leading pin means, and having a predetermined leading cam profile;   trailing cam surface means positioned to avoid said leading pin means, and to engage only said trailing pin means, and having a predetermined trailing cam profile different from said leading cam profile, whereby to support said die support blocks during a portion of the rotary cycle whereby a die affixed to said block on said lower unit may register with each other and cooperate together for the deformation of the material; and,   bearing means for supporting said units.   
     
     
       2. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmission and bearings are adjustable to allow said units to be spaced apart at different distances and including hydraulic pistons, connected to one of said units and connected to power and control means, whereby said spacing may be adjusted. 
     
     
       3. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dies define a flat forming plane. 
     
     
       4. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said path definition means comprise: an upper end plate at each end of said blocks fixed with respect to the central axis of said upper unit;   a lower end plate at each end of said blocks fixed with respect to the central axis of said lower unit;   guide means associated with each said plate adapted to receive and guide said pins; and,   wherein said first portion of the rotary cycle includes a position of contact with the material and a portion of the cycle prior to and subsequent to said position of contact.   
     
     
       5. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said guide means comprises a first cam groove, defined in respective said plates, said first groove defining a generally concave groove adapted to receive and guide said pins whereby said forming plane is essentially parallel to said material during said first portion of the rotary cycle. 
     
     
       6. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said guide means includes a second cam groove, defined in respective said plates and connected to said first cam groove, said second groove adapted to receive and guide said pins during said second portion of the rotary cycle. 
     
     
       7. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said pin includes a cam follower means adapted to fit within and follow said first and second grooves in said end plates. 
     
     
       8. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pins on opposite ends of a said block define different pin axes. 
     
     
       9. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said guide means comprises a ramp affixed to respective said plates, said ramp defining a generally concave surface adapted to receive and guide said pins whereby said forming plane is essentially parallel to said material during said first portion of the rotary cycle. 
     
     
       10. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corner member has a limiting abutment extending into said recess whereby the rotation of said block within said recess is limited in one direction, and said retaining means includes spring means affixed between said block and said corner member, said spring means urging said block against said limiting abutment. 
     
     
       11. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said block defines a channel extending along a portion of the semi-circular circumference of the block and wherein said corner member defines a post extending radially away from said central axis, said post adapted to fit within said channel and wherein said spring means is affixed at one end to said block within said channel and at the other end to said post. 
     
     
       12. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each said pin includes a cam follower means, said cam follower means adapted to contact said surface of said ramp. 
     
     
       13. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pins on opposite ends of a said block define different pin axes. 
     
     
       14. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said block in one of said units has at least one outwardly extending dowel and where each said block in the other of said units has a corresponding dowel receiving bore adapted to receive said dowel, said dowels and bores being located to at least one side of said material, whereby said dowels are inserted within said bores during contact by said dies with said material. 
     
     
       15. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said leading control pin means is located at one said end of its said block, and said trailing control pin means is located on the other said end of said block. 
     
     
       16. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said die blocks in each said unit. 
     
     
       17. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including guidance bar means on each said block in at least one of said units, said guidance bar means being extendable from each said block to, and being retractable into said block upon closing of a pair of said blocks. 
     
     
       18. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said guide block means comprise elongated generally rectangular bars, and shaft means extending into said blocks from said guide bar means, and spring means controlling movement of said shafts. 
     
     
       19. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including retaining channel means formed in each end of each said block, and retaining flanges on said carrier members, received in said channel means. 
     
     
       20. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier member has a surface adjacent said at least one recess, said surface being so formed as to be out of contact with said strip material at all times. 
     
     
       21. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including drive motor means, clutch means driven by said drive motor means, brake means connected to said rotary apparatus, for stopping same, and control means for operating said clutch means and brake means in timed relation, whereby said rotary apparatus may be started and stopped intermittently.